JessN: 2021 PREVIEWS: SEC West

[JessN]

2021 PREVIEWS: SEC West
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief

1. Alabama In short, Alabama is one of three SEC teams that have the potential to be dominant in 2021, but only if the offense doesn't lose a step while transitioning from Mac Jones to Bryce Young at quarterback. This is the deepest team in the conference by far and should have one of the best defenses of Nick Saban's tenure.
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2. Texas A&M The Aggies have felt they were ready to knock on Alabama's door for a while now already. In 2021, that dream may come true. Texas A&M has more holes that Alabama, but Jimbo Fisher is nothing if not an elite recruiter, and the Aggies have enough overall talent and depth to clearly separate themselves from the rest of the SEC West pack.
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2021 Previews

• 2021 PREVIEWS: SEC East
• 2021 Preview: Alabama Crimson Tide
• Rating the units: Clear winners, surprise runners-up in this year’s ratings matrix
• Miami preview: Hurricanes have their defenders, but do they have the firepower?
  

 

[Saban4Ever]

Nice write-up, Jess.

I looked at Texas AM's schedule, and on their school site with the schedule, they are the only SEC West school that included the SEC champ. game on their schedule... I guess they think they will make it there. lol. I looked at the other teams, including Bama's, and no other team lists that... they only list the regular season. I thought that was interesting.

I think Texas AM game will be Bama's toughest (especially as an away game), then Florida, then LSU. Miami will be interesting just because it is the first game and D'Eriq King is supposedly healthy. Bama's strength of schedule is pretty tough compared to UGA and Clemson's.

 

[jagvocate]

Aggies named a starting QB today. Haynes King. Inexperienced. Athletic.

 

[Windsortide]

I think Ole Miss will finish ahead of LSU. Too many uncertainties around the Tigers and I have to see the D improve significantly first and they need to develop some kind of consistency in the running game to help their young QB.

 

[JayBama_in_PCOLA]

Thank you, Jess! Great write. If BAMA’s offense is anywhere near where it was last year, WR depending, nobody is going to be close again this year. A&M will give a scare initially, but it’s BAMA we are talking about. That defense will be ready!

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Jess, I really like the slimmed-down and highly focused format you used for the previews. It really gets to the important points in a hurry. Well done.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Auburn finishing 6th?

 

[81usaf92]

Auburn finishing 6th?

When Alabama fans are predicting losing seasons for Auburn..... I get very worried.

 

[TideEngineer08]

When Alabama fans are predicting losing seasons for Auburn..... I get very worried.

Yeah I get it. I think it's 50/50 they have a 9 win type year or just run off the rails and go 5-7.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

I would normally agree because during the Gus years they tended to over-perform on years when not much was expected and under-perform on years when more was expected. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I think the coach they now have is their version of a Scott Frost. I see the next 3 years being very tough for Auburn fans to stomach and then a firing. It's gonna be great!

 

[BamaMoon]

The last coach (Gene Chizik) who tried to move the Barn offense in the direction to look more like a Bama offense the results were...marvelous. Hope they can repeat that success!!!

 

[DrollTide]

Jess's SEC East preview is up, if you go looking. It would be nice if the mods linked it so we could thank Jess.

 

[B1GTide]

2021 Previews: SEC East

1. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1, 8-0) Rankings (Ex, Vg, Av, Fr, Pr)Quarterbacks: VgRunning Backs: ExWide Receivers: AvOffensive Line: Vg–Defensive Line: VgLinebackers: VgDefensive Backs: VgSpecial Team…

news.tidefans.com

 

[Guido]

As usual, Jess is just about right, I could a couple of points but they would be minor.

 

[bamagradinATL]

When Alabama fans are predicting losing seasons for Auburn..... I get very worried.

They will be flying high after going 2-0 against Akron and Alabama State.

 

[78Alum]

Another great write-up. Thanks, Jess, for all of your hard work every year putting this together. Can't wait to get this season started.

 

[AUDub]

After game 1, I think we're probably deeper at RB than we initially thought. Jarquez Hunter is going to be a very good every down back for us in the future.

Also, regarding Shenker, guy had nearly an entire season's worth of receptions in one game had this been a Gus offense. For some oddball reason he never utilized TEs. 5 more catches and he'll have the most of any TE at AU in the last 7 years.

 

[B1GTide]

After game 1, I think we're probably deeper at RB than we initially thought. Jarquez Hunter is going to be a very good every down back for us in the future.

Also, regarding Shenker, guy had nearly an entire season's worth of receptions in one game had this been a Gus offense. For some oddball reason he never utilized TEs. 5 more catches and he'll have the most of any TE at AU in the last 7 years.

By all means, get excited - but you played against air. Your practices were orders of magnitude more difficult than that game.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

By all means, get excited - but you played against air. Your practices were orders of magnitude more difficult than that game.

auburn's first 2 opponents will make them look like the greatest team in history.

 

[AUDub]

By all means, get excited - but you played against air. Your practices were orders of magnitude more difficult than that game.

I think you're reading something I didn't say.

We'd have won with our erstwhile coach, but there's no way a Malzahn team would have looked quite that crisp. With Gus it always took 2 to 3 games to "figure out the offense."

Plus it was good just to see a proper route tree rather than passing plays with just one read.